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THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, April 15, 2010

GUEST EDITORIAL

WHY I SUPPORT

By Hon. Steve Vaillancourt

State Representative Hills. 15

D’ALLESANDRO PLAN

I have been receiving so

many emails regarding

“expanded gambling” that I thought I’d write this generic response for everyone. I trust this clarifies my position, and I will be sending it to anyone who emails me in the next few weeks. I agree with many who say they support “expanded gambling.” I have long advocated allowing people to “waste” their money any way they see fit, whether it be on an expensive outing to Fenway Park, Gil- lette Stadium, Waterville Valley, Cannon Mt., or as far away as Europe. I don’t buy the argument that expanded gambling will be the ruination of society. While there will undoubtedly be some social costs, I believe these are generally overstated. A dollar lost gambling can never be retrieved any more than a dol- lar lost rooting for the Red Sox or Patriots can ever be retrieved. Nor am I convinced that crime rates will increase dramatically with expanded gambling. Likewise, although we can argue about the specific revenues the state will derive, there is no doubt the state will receive “significant” monies from expanded gambling ($150 million a year seems doable, but let’s say between $100-200 million). Now comes the big BUT... Having said all that, I will not be supporting

SB489, the expanded gambling bill from Senator Lou D’Allesandro (up to 17,000 slots at six locations), which was heard before the Local and Regulated Revenues committee earlier this week. The Senate had every opportunity to whip this bill into shape, yet it remains fatally flawed in dozens of specific ways (ranging from the multiplicity of newly created dedicated funds to a paucity of oversight). In more general terms, the spirit of this bill is flawed beyond redemption; it is not capable of being amended into shape at this late date. The biggest flaw is that this bill provides a state

monopoly for private businesses. Worse than that, it provides a monopoly for three pre-existing busi- nesses and, from the way the bill is worded, quite clearly a fourth business (the proposed Hudson gambling/slots/golf emporium). While this may not technically be in violation of Part 1, Article 10 of the New Hampshire

See GAMBLING on 8

EXPANDED GAMBLING BUT NOT THE

by Michelle Malkin

Syndicated Columnist

THE PFLEGER-IZATION OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

S o muc h t h a t

you need to know about the Catho- lic Church’s social policy problems can be summed up in one word: Chicago.

On race, abortion, guns, immigration and “community organizing,” Catho- lic Church officials in the Windy City have forged unholy alliances with radi- cal left-wingers and enablers who un- dermine the faith -- and the faithful. Exhibi t A: the Archdiocese of Chi- cago’s Office for Ra- cial Justice and one of its most notori- ous priests, the Rev. Michael Pfleger. This week, Chicago Cardinal Francis George -- who also happens to be presi- dent of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops -- presided over a gala cer- emony honoring Pfleger with a “lifetime achievement award” for his “service in pursuit of dismantling racism, injustice and inequalities on behalf of African Americans and all people of color.” How, pray tell, has Pfleger achieved

the officially sanctioned Catholic vision of “racial justice”? By aligning himself with the nation’s worst racial dema- gogues and using his pulpit at the St. Sabina Catholic Church on Chicago’s Southside to promote poisonous iden- tity politics. Pfleger (who is white) grabbed the spotlight during the 2008 presidential campaign with jive-talking defenses of his fellow race-hustler and President Obama’s spiritual mentor the Rev. Jeremiah (“God damn America!” and “AmeriKKKA!”) Wright and Jew-bashing hate-monger Louis (Judaism is a “gut- ter religion”) Farrakhan. The racial justice award-winner called the latter a “great man” and welcomed him to his church. Pfleger, a member of the Catholics for Obama Committee, stoked further racial

division by mocking Hillary Clinton’s skin color and accusing her of “white entitlement.” It’s one thing to ridicule Hillary’s sense of political and ideologi- cal entitlement as part of the Clinton dynasty. But the demagogic emphasis on her race was beyond the pale. Screamed Pf leger while wearing

It’s one thing to ridicule

Hillary’s sense of political and ideological entitlement as part of the Clinton dynasty. But the demagogic emphasis on her race was beyond the pale.

his Roman Catholic collar during a guest appearance at Wright’s Trinity United Church of Christ: “I really believe

that (Hillary) just always thought, ‘This is mine (con- gregation laughter, hoots) . I ’m Bi l l ’s wife. I’m white. And

this is mine. And I jus’ gotta get up and step into the plate.’ And then out of no- where came, ‘Hey, I’m Barack Obama.’ And she said, ‘Oh, damn! Where did you come from? (crowd goes nuts, Pfleger screaming). I’m white! I’m en- titled! There’s a black man stealing my show. (sobs!)’ She wasn’t the only one crying! There was a whole lotta white people crying!” On a roll, Pfleger mustered up his

best Wright imitation and let loose on the entire country, proclaiming: “Amer- ica is the greatest sin against God.” Pfleger has also embraced hate-crime

hoax engineer Al Sharpton. Outraged Catholics across the country called on the archdiocese of Chicago to remove Pfleger. In response, Cardinal George meekly suspended Pfleger for two weeks over his “partisan” remarks -- and has now honored him for his “service” to “racial justice.” The sermon in 1 Corinthians 15:33

teaches us that bad company corrupts good character. Have they forgotten? In an e-mail exchange with Pfleger

this week, he indignantly accused me of not telling the “truth.” When I quoted his own toxic words back to him, he ac- cused me of being “mean-spirited.” This rogue Catholic priest has been

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